Woman Claims She Was Fired Because She Has Breast Cancer

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DALLAS -- Jacquelyne Froeber was an Editor-in-Chief at Ink Global, writing for the magazines found on American Airlines' flights: American Way, which is the general interests magazine in coach, and Celebrated Living, which is the magazine for first in business class.

While Jacquelyne was getting ready to walk her dogs one day, she says she felt a lump and immediately called her doctor for an appointment. She would later be diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.

Soon after being diagnosed with breast cancer she says she informed Ink Global of all the decisions and changes she will be going to go through for treatment of her cancer.

A week after she told Ink of her situation, she says they announced they were closing the Dallas office and completely relocated to Miami.

"But they offered us to [re-]interview for our job if we wanted to move to Miami," Jacquelyne said. "There was no relocation [payments] offered and no salary cost of living difference. But I really wanted my job, so I re-interviewed."

At this point, Jacquelyne had gone through chemotherapy and lost all her hair. When she showed up to her interview, she was completely bald.

She felt her interview went well, and she says she was even told it went well and she showed passion for the position.

Even prior to being re-interviewed Jacquelyne said she had never received any negative criticism of her work and had helped win awards for the magazines she worked on.

"I was doing really well," she said. "I was told I was doing really well. "

"They told they were going to keep me on until December and reevaluate me in December."

Then Jacquelyne said she got another call a week later from her employer saying they were no longer offering her a position in Miami due to the quality of her work.

But there was a catch. Stated within the contract, Jacquelyne claims, the company wanted to use her picture from before she lost her hair instead of what she currently looks like.

Jacquelyne said she could not let this slide and decided to file a lawsuit against Ink and American Airlines for a breach of contract and for discrimination because of her current health status.

We reached out to American Airlines for a statement on this situation and here's what they had to say:

American Airlines has been at the forefront of the fight against breast cancer for decades and our thoughts are with Ms. Froeber after her recent diagnosis. It is important to note, however, that Ms. Froeber’s employment issues have nothing to do with American, as Ms. Froeber has never been, nor does she claim to have been, an employee of American. The lawsuit against American is distinct from any employment claim Ms. Froeber has made against Ink, and instead is based on what American believes is a misinterpretation of a contract between American and Ink. American intends to promptly seek dismissal of the matter against it.

Ink Global also responded to our request for comment on Jacquelyne's lawsuit.

As this matter is in litigation we cannot comment in detail. Our primary concern is for our former colleague and we are very disappointed that she has chosen to take legal action at this most difficult of time. In our opinion this claim is baseless and it is with deep regret we are being forced into this matter to ensure the truth comes out.